Delaware Corporate Litigation

Overview

“Established group of highly skilled litigators noted for its capabilities in major general commercial disputes.”

Chambers USA

Delaware is the unquestioned center for the development of corporate and commercial law. With its Court of Chancery, it boasts a judiciary with unmatched experience resolving complex business and corporate governance disputes. Businesses need counsel who have familiarity and the facility to guide clients through the Delaware courts.

Our Delaware corporate litigation attorneys have maintained a significant presence before the Court of Chancery and Delaware Supreme Court for decades. From takeover battles and proxy contests to class actions, we regularly appear before these courts and are familiar with the individual practices of the jurists who serve on them. 

Combining resources across the firm with our Delaware attorneys promotes efficiency and cost effectiveness to better serve our clients. In addition to serving as lead counsel for our clients, our Delaware office is often engaged by many of the largest law firms across the country and the world to serve as local or special counsel in cases pending in Delaware.

How We Can Help

We represent corporations and their officers, directors, and shareholders in cases involving:

  • Corporate governance
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Officer and director fiduciary duties and alleged breach of fiduciary duty
  • Indemnity
  • Advancement
  • Appraisal and quasi-appraisal
  • Books and records requests
  • Partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability, and holding companies

What Sets Us Apart

  • Our litigation team is comprised of nearly 30 former Department of Justice attorneys and five former judges and many of the team members are members of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers.
  • Law360 named Blank Rome a 2017 “Pennsylvania Powerhouse” and recognized “its prolific national litigation practice and deep bench strength.”
  • Ranked Tier 1 in 2023 U.S. News & World Report–Best Lawyers® (Woodward/White, Inc.) national ranks for Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance, Bankruptcy, and White Collar Litigation. Also highly ranked nationally for Patent, Securities, Environmental, Tax Law, and Labor & Employment.
  • Chambers USA editors have stated that Blank Rome has a:
    • “Significant commercial litigation practice, offering sought-after representation across a range of cases including securities, antitrust, environmental, construction and cybersecurity disputes. Further highlighted for its federal appellate work and for its experience in class action defense.”
  • Chambers USA editors have further remarked:
    • “The litigation team was excellent. Each of the lawyers brought a very interesting element to the team and they blended together well. They were great and I would highly recommend them!"

Experience

  • Helped numerous global businesses pursue claims relating to a stock purchase agreement disputes.
  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice of class action claims seeking quasi-appraisal relief against Board of Directors for alleged breach of fiduciary duty following merger.
  • Vindicated rights of a significant shareholder, stripped of his stock following a freeze-out merger, involving allegations of massive self-dealing and diversion of assets by corporate fiduciaries, as well as a stockholder appraisal action pursuant to Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
  • Served as national litigation counsel and defense group coordination counsel for a leading publisher of video games in a series of derivative class action litigations involving claims for securities fraud, options backdating, breaches of fiduciary duty and improper business practices. 
  • Regularly represent special committees of boards of directors formed to investigate allegations of wrongdoing by corporate fiduciaries and in response to derivative litigation filed by stockholders.
  • Represented a leading designer and manufacturer of women's apparel in defense of several shareholder derivative actions challenging the client's $120 million acquisition of a competitor.  The litigations included claims for breach of fiduciary duty, improper disclosures and ineffective corporate governance. 
  • Served as lead counsel and coordination counsel for defense group representing a regional telecommunications company in defense of shareholder derivative actions seeking to enjoin the client's proposed sale to a competitor
  • Represented a major food manufacturing company in a subsidiary spin of litigation involving fiduciary and fraud claims brought against the parent and its board of directors.
  • Represented a hedge fund in a partnership dispute over the return of capital navigating complex issues of partner's fiduciary duties and contractual rights. 
  • Represented a hedge fund in a limited liability company governance succession dispute involving advancement/indemnification obligations and rights of a removed director.
  • Represented the board of directors in an expedited proceeding involving preferred stock issuance.